NAWANAGAR IS BESIEGED

considering the Khawas had gone too far, advised him
to release the Jam. Meraman abused the messenger
and, losing his temper, was never afterwards on terms of
friendship with Dewan Amarji's son. But he saw the
force of the advice and released his captive, keeping him,
however, very strictly watched.

Later in the same year (A.D. 1797) Fateh Mahomed
again crossed the Rann with an army from Kachh. But
this time Meraman was ready for him, and had augmented
his army with a large body of mercenary troops of the
army of Malhar Rao Gaekwad. In addition he obtained
aid from Nawab Hamed Khan of Junagadh at the cost
of a large sum of money, while he was successful in inducing
Mukhtiar Khan Babi of Bantwa and Sheikh Murtaza of
Mangrol to bring contingents to his support. The army
thus formed awaited the Kachh troops at Dhensara, near
the Rann, in Morvi territory, and when Fateh Mahomed
arrived and saw the host arrayed against him, he thought
better of attacking it. He agreed to submit all disputes
to the arbitration of four men, Raghunathji, Karsanji
Jhala, Kalian Hirji, and Shah Shavji, acting respectively
for Nawanagar, Dhrangadhra, Junagadh, and Kachh, and
retired with his army to the North of the Rann.

In the following year, however, Rao Rayadhanji again
returned to the attack, and with Fateh Mahomed and
a huge army reached Nawanagar unmolested, where he
camped near the Naganath Mahadeva temple. Meraman
now barricaded the gates of Nawanagar with bricks, but
Fateh Mahomed learning from some of the defenders that
one of the walls of the fort was not strongly defended,
attacked at the place indicated instead of at the gate
where he was expected, counting on help from his friends
within the town. But before the Kachh troops had
mounted the scaling ladders, Meraman Khawas, inspecting
his batteries at dawn, discovered the plan. The assault
was delivered with desperate valour, but Fateh Mahomed

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